Establishing a good oral hygiene routine for your child will help him avoid cavities and other dental complications. You’ll also be helping your child develop great oral care habits that will help him maintain good dental health well into adulthood. Your child should start seeing a pediatric dentist by the time he is one year old. To complement that pediatric dental care, here’s what you should practice at home:

Brushing
As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, it’s time to start brushing. Start by brushing with just a soft brush and water, and move to a fluoride toothpaste when your child is old enough to understand not to swallow it. Brush the teeth twice a day until your child can start brushing for himself. Children often start brushing their own teeth, with supervision, around age four and can usually start brushing unsupervised around age seven.

Flossing
You should begin flossing your child’s teeth as soon as he has two teeth that touch each other. Flossing can be difficult to master, so you should floss your child’s teeth until he can do so himself, which may be after he can master brushing on his own. Be sure to teach your child the importance of reaching all of the teeth, especially the back teeth. Children should floss at least once a day or every time they brush.

Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride can be beneficial in building healthy teeth, but too much fluoride can have the opposite effect. When kids get too much fluoride, they develop brown and white spots on their teeth. Young children may get fluoride from many sources, including toothpaste and juices. Fluoride rinses and supplements can be an important part of dental health for your child, but check with your pediatric dentist before you start a fluoride treatment.

For a partner in your child’s dental care, call us at Best Kids Dentist. Our Brooklyn pediatric dental practice is committed to delivering kid-focused dental care that will help your little one establish excellent oral health. Call us at (718) 491-5300 to schedule an appointment with our children’s dentist.